The PHILO LIBRARY, PAST & PRESENT.

This, the Philo Public Library District Blog's first posting, is being composed in early April, 2006. We are attempting to link it to the library's new web site located at : www.prairienet.org/ppld.

Some wordsmith once said that the past is a foreign country. By which I thought they meant that it is hard to understand, and somehow different. But in a sense if we can't try to remember where we and our institutions came from, then we'll lose part of who and what we are.

So, we will begin with a tip of our hat to the far sighted folks who worked to create the Philo Library initially, and to those hard working folks who have kept it alive and well for the past 44 years!

The following is a brief history of the Philo Library:

The Philo Public Library District had its beginnings in January 1962 as a project of the Philo Woman's Club. It opened in a small rented store with donated books and volunteer staff.

In the fall of 1962 a tax referendum gave the library a tax base, and the Philo Township Public Library was created. In 1971 the library moved to larger rented quarters with 18 open hours per week. By January 1979 hours had been increased to 44 per week with the librarian present 30 hours per week and assistants 14 hours.

In August of 1989 the library was forced to close when its building was sold. While a new site and building were being sought, the library operated 27 hours per week from a stationary bookmobile with only current materials available.

The Philo Township Library became the Philo Public Library District by referendum in 1990. On July 1, 1992 the library opened in a temporary leased facility while the search for a permanent site continued.

On September 28, 1996 ground was broken for a new 4,000 square foot building, built with an Illinois State Library Live and Learn Grant and a bond issue voted by the citizens. The first permanent home of the Philo Public Library District opened on July 31, 1997 and was dedicated on September 27, 1997. It is now open 42 hours per week during the school year. Services and materials now available are books, magazines, videos, DVDs, audio books, CDs, reference, computers, computer-searching, microfilm and microfiche readers, fax, and copy machine.

As the library that has faithfully served "the center of the universe" (for a photo that "clearly" shows the painting on Philo's watertower, visit - www.philipbrewer.net/Journal/2005/2005-04-16.php), we would like to hear your rememberances and comments about people and efforts connected with the Philo Public Library.